The hurling people in Tipp & Cork seem to have given up and that's a worry. Kilkenny are a superb side but it's a bit like football and Kerry. If you go out the gate believing you are a beaten side well you will be. Taking nothing away from Kilkenny but it seems that defeatism has taken over in hurling. For goodness sake a lot of it is to do with the mindset as well. The established counties need to shake themselves and Cork especially have to lose that chip on the shoulder. The strike seemed to be an excuse and cover for players who have surrendered to Kilkenny on the pitch. Away and sit in bath of ice the lot of you and stop feeling sorry for yourselves.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 07/04/2009 22:52:49    251474

As much as it is great to be around to witness the feats of this Kilkenny team, its also sad for hurling that it has become a monopoly, we need a hurling team in the form of Tyrone in the football who have been knocking on the door this few years, but to take the championship by the short and curlies to revolutionalise the Hurling championship!

Niamh (Derry) - Posts: 2397 - 08/04/2009 00:16:25    251576

Ulsterman County: Antrim Posts: 410 251474 The hurling people in Tipp & Cork seem to have given up and that's a worry. Kilkenny are a superb side but it's a bit like football and Kerry. If you go out the gate believing you are a beaten side well you will be. Taking nothing away from Kilkenny but it seems that defeatism has taken over in hurling. For goodness sake a lot of it is to do with the mindset as well. The established counties need to shake themselves and Cork especially have to lose that chip on the shoulder. The strike seemed to be an excuse and cover for players who have surrendered to Kilkenny on the pitch. Away and sit in bath of ice the lot of you and stop feeling sorry for yourselves. Ulsterman, this is complete nonsense. Antrim have not had a strike, neither have Tipp, nor Galway, nor Clare or Limerick. Why are they losing to Kilkenny? Could it be because as you suggested that Kilkenny have a better team?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 08/04/2009 00:48:04    251594

Maybe in your own County of Monaghan hurling is a farce,but its the life and soul of my Parish.Club is King and hurling has never been more popular in our Parish,most kids mad to get involved and numbers increasing every year thank God.At intrercounty level Limerick have had a good league campaign and have been competitive thru out.Last Sunday and at all home games over the last couple of years ,hundreds of youngfellas take to the field at 1/2 time for a puck around,a great sight and my own young lad insists on bringing his hurley and sliotar to all Limerick games.The kids love hurling and long may it continue.

eastgael (Limerick) - Posts: 629 - 08/04/2009 07:49:43    251611

Its still very competitive, As long as you dont play Kilkenny. It's a one horse race for the All Ireland IMO,, but in saying that I'm looking forward to going to the games in Leinster and watching the Munster Championship. Roll on the summer.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 08/04/2009 09:24:03    251641

Hurling is stronger than ever imo. Fact that Kilkenny are so far ahead at inter county senior level actually has little impact as only 8 other inter county teams have to play them! My club is not going to stop hurling if Cats win four in a row!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 08/04/2009 09:43:55    251660

My club is not going to stop hurling if Cats win four in a row!

Well that just makes sense.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 08/04/2009 09:52:30    251671

It does actually. Argument is that hurling is a 'farce' and that game is suffering. My point, and eastgael and others is that neither proposition is true and that Cats dominance is not damaging hurling on the ground.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 08/04/2009 10:09:12    251684

I agree with hurlingdub. The preceived dominance of Kilkenny would not stop me going to see Limerick, Limerick club games or other inter-county games. I normally try to get to one of the All-Ireland semi's each year and even if Kilkenny are wiping the floor with everyone I'd still go to see these games. I don't think Kilkenny's success is stopping anyone from pulling on their club or county shirts in any part of the country either. Personally I don't fear Kilkenny probably because they haven't 'massacred' us in the championship this decade. Big games we've played them in: 2002 NHL semi final Kilkenny 2-14 Limerick 0-15 2005 All-Ireland quarter final Kilkenny 0-18 Limerick 0-13 2006 NHL final Kilkenny 3-11 Limerick 0-14 2007 All-Ireland final Kilkenny 2-19 Limerick 1-15 Biggest defeat there is 6 points. We seem to raise our game for them, it's teams like Offaly and Clare who've given us the hammerings this decade.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6488 - 08/04/2009 10:27:03    251702

Re hurlingdub,My point exactly,if anything,to most young fellas at the moment,Kilkenny are like the BRAZIL of hurling,they all want to be that good. Most of us are Club people and for us the Club is the priority,from the U8s to Adult.

eastgael (Limerick) - Posts: 629 - 08/04/2009 10:31:28    251710

I agree totally with the lads. Kilkenny's perception of dominance comes from other teams at the moment and I think a lot of teams are actually beaten and have thrown in the towel before the games start. Bar Waterford last year we haven't handed out many drubbings in Championship games and we won't this year either. While we may be a few points better than some teams we have had it put up to us in a lot of games for 40/50 and sometimes 60 mins.
This tells me that if teams can hold them for this long they can beat them too. Its just a case of being fit enough, keeping concentration long enough, having a plan and more so being psychologically strong enough to believe they can win. Offaly for 40 mins last year, Galway the year before, Wexford on occasions all had the measure of Kilkenny but lacked one of the 4 things I mentioned to go ahead and win.
One thing is for sure. This Kilkenny team will be beaten eventually and whoever does it fair play to them. Obviously I hope its not this year but it will happen and once one team does it on a big day it will show the rest that they are not invincible and we will have a great championship again with more teams than ever before competing

solo (Kilkenny) - Posts: 314 - 08/04/2009 11:31:22    251771

hurling is now returing to what it was for generations, basically Kilkenny, tipp, cork.
with limerick, wexford, galway, clare, waterford and laterally offaly making breakthroughs intermittently

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 08/04/2009 18:33:24    252332

tomaoo7
County: Dublin
Posts: 2269

251462
patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 2797

Typical patrique kick us when were down,dont worry at least we get 1 day in croke pk.


I would never kick the Dubs. You and I both know that they are better than they showed that day, when they did jack it after ten minutes. McMahon's goal was a joke.


And I can't see Antrim living with them in the hurling this year.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 08/04/2009 23:44:58    252681

Solo i suppose u have a pocket full of medals yourself. The reason some of the panel look average to u is because they are trying to make their way on to the best team ever! Some nerve calling these lads average you and so called "people in the know around kilkenny"! Always somebody knocking brilliance even one of our own.

richiescats (USA) - Posts: 420 - 09/04/2009 02:25:05    252767

dhorse wrote: hurling is now returing to what it was for generations, basically Kilkenny, tipp, cork. with limerick, wexford, galway, clare, waterford and laterally offaly making breakthroughs intermittently dhorse, do you ever see a time when Laois will compete in division 1 or in the McCarthy cup? I can remember back in 2003 playing Laois in a NHL/NFL double header in one of your county grounds and your hurlers giving us a torrid time. We won the game, but just about. I was impressed with them that day. What has happened since?

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6488 - 09/04/2009 09:33:51    252809

Richiescats - Actually I do have a few. My hurling days are behind me at this stage. And while I accept your point about some of the lads trying to make probably the best hurling team ever, I do not accept that some of these lads especially towards the back of the panel are exceptional hurlers or even very good ones for that matter. Anyone will tell you that there are a lot of very lucky people in the county to have medals.
I attend a lot of club games and most of the lads towards the back of the panel are not even special club hurlers. I am not putting anyone down and like I said before I will not name anyone because they are giving up their time and I know the effort they have to make.
Cody picks about 4 hurlers each year who are usually big and strong and brings them in to train with the lads and basically gets them to throw themselves around. Of course these lads are more than happy to do this as it is a huge honour to be involved in the county set up, but to think that all 30/34 players Cody has are excellent hurlers is a bit mad to say the least

solo (Kilkenny) - Posts: 314 - 09/04/2009 09:52:18    252827

hurling dub i dont now how one side hammereing another is exciting. i love football but the final of 07 when kerry hammered cork was just boring. hurling is predictable. also how many counties are there with a realistic chance of winning the all ireland, very few. football is far different. the championship is very competitive. in hurling there isnt even a connaught championship. ulster is a farce. only munster has a bit of excitement but once any of these teams play kk they are beaten. Hurling isnt played competitively in alot of counties. football is simply more popular. adding galway and antrim into leinster shows how bad things are.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 09/04/2009 12:00:14    252983

Kilkenny Folk born with a Hurl in their hands so why bother to dabble in Football? Its like watching Eddie the Eel swim in the Olympics.

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 09/04/2009 12:10:19    253000

PK57...how many more threads are you coming to come on and keep telling us that hurling is boring.
Solution .......Don't watch it....I'm sure the game will continue without you. Think you could be classed as a WUM and no one is biting......

And by the way, telling us hurling and Leinster is bad is some joke when you have one team dominating Leinster football for the past few years.

solo (Kilkenny) - Posts: 314 - 09/04/2009 12:14:45    253010

PK57................and the Leinster Football Championship is competitive or the Munster (2 teams) or Connacht (2 teams)..........see the thread "think before you type" I think!!!!!

solo (Kilkenny) - Posts: 314 - 09/04/2009 12:17:43    253013